Toy rubber band-projecting gun



Jan. 10, 1967 K. D. KIRKLAND 3,297,012

TOY RUBBER BAND-PROJECTING GUN Filed Aug. 28. 1963 I NVEN TOR.

KENNETH D. KIRKLAND BY J Attorney United States Patent 3,297,012 TOY RUBBER BAND-PROJECTING GUN Kenneth D. Kirkland, 123 S. Downing St., Denver, Colo. 80209 Filed Aug. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 305,052 4 Claims. (Cl. 12418) This invention relates to a novel and improved toy and more particularly relates to toy guns adapted for firing elastic bands.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toy gun for shooting elastic bands which is characterized by being capable of safe, easy loading and firing with great accuracy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy rubber band gun having an improved trigger of simplified inexpensive construction, and wherein a release mechanism for the trigger is completely enclosed so as to eliminate the danger of pinching the hand when the trigger arm is manipulated for firing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a toy gun of the class described for an improved elastic band so constructed and arranged in cooperation with the gun as to be securely held in place and released with accuracy, and which is safe and dependable in use.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the relative disposition and arrangement between parts of the gun when fired.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View in detail of the movable trigger arm forming a part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View illustrating the use of a preferred form of elastic band in loaded position in the preferred form of gun structure; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in detail of the preferred form of elastic band employed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example in the drawing a toy rubber band gun having a body formed of an elongated barrel 12 and a stationary handle or stock 13. At the rear of the barrel, the barrel 12 and handle portion 13 together define a downwardly inclining surface 14. A movable handle portion 16 includes a back plate 17, the lower end of which defines a trigger arm 18 and the upper end of which defines a band-engaging end or hammer 20. The back plate 17 is formed so as to be co-extensive with the inclined surface 14, and forwardly extending side plates 22 extend from opposite sides of the back plate 17 to overlap opposite sides of the stationary handle portion 13. The side plates 22 have bores 23 adapted to be aligned with a transverse opening, not shown, in the stationary handle to receive a common pivot pin 26 which pivotally interconnects the handle portion 13 and 16. In addition, the back plate 17 has a lower tapered extremity or lip 28 adapted to be advanced forwardly and beneath the handle 13.

The hammer is normally biased against the upper end of the inclined surface 14 by means of a coiled spring 30, the ends of which are inserted in aligned recesses 32 and 33 in the lower end of the stock or handle 13 and back plate 17, respectively. By positioning the spring below the fulcrum or pivot point established by the pivot pin 26, the trigger arm 18 is normally biased away from the inclined surface 14 with the hammer 20 pressed 3,297,012 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 against the upper end of the inclined surface as described. However, it will be apparent that by squeezing the trigger arm inwardly toward the inclined surface against the force of spring 30, the hammer will be withdrawn from the inclined surface to form a slight space, for example, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. In this relation, since the spring is positioned between the back plate 17 and the surface 14 it will be held in proper alignment and be completely enclosed by the side plates 22 and the lower lip 28.

The toy gun as described is adapted for use in firing elastic lengths or bands of conventional construction, such as, a rubber band having one end positioned over the front end of the barrel, then stretched rearwardly over the entire barrel portion, and the opposite end being inserted in clamping engagement between the hammer 20 and the inclined surface 14. By squeezing the trigger arm 18 as described, the hammer is withdrawn to permit the band to slip over the inclined surface and to be discharged. Preferably, however, an elastic band as illustrated in FIG- URE 5 is employed and again which may suitably be composed of a rubber or rubber-like material. The band 40 has a loop end 12 for placement over the forward end of the barrel with opposite ends of the loop being joined together to form a single length 44 which is passed over the top surface of the barrel 12 and terminating in a slight enlargement 45 for insertion between the hammer end 21) and the inclined surface. In this relation, the hammer 20 is most desirably provided with an 'arcuate notch 46 extending transversely thereacross and adapted to receive the enlargement 45 therein so as to more securely hold the band against release. It will be noted also that the notch and enlargement are generally circular or of rounded configuration so that when the trigger arm is squeezed for release of the band, the rounded enlargement will easily be released without danger of snagging within the notch.

Although the use and operation of the gun are apparent from the foregoing description, of particular importance is the manner in which the side plates 22 and lip 28 extend into overlap-ping relation with the stationary handle portion and are pivotally secured thereto so as to accurately align and to enclose the spring between the handle portions. Thus, upon repeated firing, the side plates 22 and lip 28 will serve to hold the spring in alignment and minimize any tendency of the trigger arm to wobble or loosen; moreover, when the trigger arm is squeezed, the forwardly extending side plates 22 will prevent pinching of the hand either by the trigger arm 18 or spring 30. In utilizing a conventional band or one of the type shown in FIGURE 5, either may be easily loaded and held in place then discharged merely by squeezing the trigger arm. However, the band of FIGURE 5 is of particular value in that the enlargement will effect more positive engagement with the hammer end and will lend more accurate direction to the band when fired.

In constructing the gun, the principal parts as defined by the body and movable handle members may be composed of various materials such as wood or plastic; also the members can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled or may be manufactured and supplied in kit form for assembly by the user. It is accordingly to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy gun for firing rubber bands and the like comprising a barrel, and coextensive and complementary stationary and movable handle portions, said stationary handle portion being secured to one end of the barrel and inclining rearwardly and downwardly therefrom to provide a rearward, downwardly inclined surface, said movable portion having an upper hammer and lower trigger arm in facing relation to the downwardly inclined surface and forwardly extending sides overlapping opposite sides of said stationary handle portion, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said movable and stationary handle portions, each of said side plates extending from above said pivot means downwardly to the bottom of the respective sides of said stationary handle and resilient means enclosed between the inclined surface and said trigger arm normally biasing said trigger arm away from said inclined surface and biasing said hammer against the upper end of said inclined surface to yieldingly engage a rubber band placed between said hammer and the upper end of the inclined surface whereupon inward pressing of said trigger arm against the bias of said spring the rubber band is released for discharge.

2. A toy gun according to claim 1 in which said upper hammer includes a notch in facing relation to the inclined surface and the rubber band includes an enlargement at one end thereof for placement within the notch when said band-engaging end is clamped against the inclined surface.

3. A toy gun comprising an elongated barrel, a stationary handle portion inclining rearwardly and downwardly from to the rearward end of the barrel, a movable handle portion including a back plate coextensive with the rearward end of the barrel and the stationary handle portion, side plates extending forwardly from said back plate in overlapping relation to opposite sides of said stationary handle portion, a pivot pin pivotally interconnecting said side plates and stationary handle portion for pivotal movement of said movable handle portion about an axis transverse to the length of said barrel, each of said side plates extending from above said pivot pin down- Wardly to the bottom of the respective sides of said stationary handle a coiled spring interpositioned between said back plate and said stationary handle portion in spaced relation below said pivot pin biasing the lower end of said back plate away from said stationary handle and biasing the upper end of said back plate against the rearward end of the barrel, and an elastic band having a loop end placed over the forward end of said barrel and an enlarged end proportioned for insertion between the upper end of said back plate and the rearward end of said barrel.

4. A toy gun according to claim 3, said movable handle portion additionally including a lower lip extending forwardly from said back plate beneath the stationary handle portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,559 9/1932 Copple 124-18 1,957,713 5/1934 Howe 12418 2,508,235 5/1950 Dunnegan 12418 3,071,127 1/1963 Spack 124-17 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOY GUN FOR FIRING RUBBER BANDS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A BARREL, AND COEXTENSIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY STATIONARY AND MOVABLE HANDLE PORTIONS, SAID STATIONARY HANDLE PORTION BEING SECURED TO ONE END OF THE BARREL AND INCLINING REARWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A REARWARD, DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SURFACE, SAID MOVABLE PORTION HAVING AN UPPER HAMMER AND LOWER TRIGGER ARM IN FACING RELATION TO THE DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SURFACE AND FORWARDLY EXTENDING SIDES OVERLAPPING OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STATIONARY HANDLE PORTION, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID MOVABLE AND STATIONARY HANDLE PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID SIDE PLATES EXTENDING FROM ABOVE SAID PIVOT MEANS DOWNWARDLY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID STATIONARY HANDLE AND RESILIENT MEANS ENCLOSED BETWEEN THE INCLINED SURFACE AND SAID TRIGGER ARM NORMALLY BIASING SAID TRIGGER ARM AWAY FROM SAID INCLINED SURFACE AND BIASING SAID HAMMER AGAINST THE UPPER END OF SAID INCLINED SURFACE TO YIELDINGLY ENGAGE A RUBBER BAND PLACED BETWEEN SAID HAMMER AND THE UPPER END OF THE INCLINED SURFACE WHEREUPON INWARD PRESSING OF SAID TRIGGER ARM AGAINST THE BIAS OF SAID SPRING THE RUBBER BAND IS RELEASED FOR DISCHARGE. 